Chelsea defender Thiago Silva is among the top five best French Ligue I defenders of all time after his epic career with PSG.
However, Thiago Silva is the only active player that has broken into the top five list. Here are legendary names on the list;
Marius Trésor (AC Ajaccio, Olympique de Marseille, FC Girondins de Bordeaux)
Marius Trésor was a dominant centre-back who was known for his strength, speed, and aerial ability. He won the Ligue 1 title with Bordeaux in 1984, and he was also a key player for the France national team, appearing in three World Cups and two European Championships.
Laurent Blanc (AS Saint-Étienne, Olympique de Marseille, FC Internazionale Milano)
Laurent Blanc was another world-class centre-back who was known for his intelligence, leadership, and passing ability. He won the Ligue 1 title with Marseille five times, and he also won the Champions League with Marseille in 1993. He was also a key player for the France national team, appearing in two World Cups and one European Championship.
Marcel Desailly (FC Nantes, Olympique de Marseille, AC Milan, Chelsea FC)
Marcel Desailly was a versatile defender who could play at centre-back or right-back. He won the Ligue 1 title with Marseille in 1992, and he also won the Champions League with Marseille in 1993 and with Milan in 1994. He was also a key player for the France national team, winning the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000.
Lilian Thuram (AS Monaco FC, Juventus FC, FC Barcelona)
Lilian Thuram was a powerful and athletic centre-back who was known for his pace and tackling ability. He won the Ligue 1 title with Monaco in 1997 and 2000, and he also won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006. He was also a key player for the France national team, winning the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000.
Thiago Silva (Fluminense FC, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea)
Thiago Silva is a modern-day great who has won the Ligue 1 title seven times with Paris Saint-Germain. He is also a key player for the Brazil national team, and he helped them to win the Copa América in 2019.
